I thank Arthur De Bow for suggesting I stitch on paper, particularly the monoprints I made during my February 2017residency at Mass MoCA. Arthur is an artist, athlete and former Exhibition Director at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. He critiqued the work I did in North Adams. We agreed: some of the work was ready to show, while other prints were waiting for something to complete the zen of their being.

A bit more about Mass MoCA: I worked on three particular projects. One was my Santa Vittoria project and my intention to produce the images related to the Late Antiquity Roman saint and I made many prints that related to her. A group of the prints were heart monoprints done with red, blue and purple inks. (Vittoria’s heart had been pierced through by a Roman general’s lance.) I decided to stitch vein and artery pathways, energy patterns and perhaps text on the paper prints.

To learn the new techniques, I needed to experiment. Since I’d never stitched on paper, I proceeded judiciously. First, I wanted to test paper strength ( would I need to reinforce the back of the paper– and with what–to prevent tearing?). Next, I tried out pre-puncturing the paper before I stitched ( which required planning) vs. puncturing the paper with the sewing needle as I went along (no planning–but less control.) In addition, I used different weight threads. Arthur gifted me with multiple colors of linen thread; I had plain ol’ embroidery thread at home; and I was interested in stitching with gold, acrylic thread as well.

This luscious period of experimentation opened doors: I added collage, gold leaf, pastel and colored pencils during the process of learning and enhancing monoprints.

I worked with prints I made summer (2016) at the Danforth Museum, before the museum closed their print room. Here are detail views from a few of the enhanced mono prints: ( I would enjoy hearing form anyone who has stitched on paper.)

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Christine Palamidessi

I re-consecrate and re-mythologize as much about then & now and about us human beings as possible. (Wondering: effect of fake news, digitalization, poor education system etc?) I do it with art in the company of other artists who are making narratives, history, words and images tangible ...we hold and give hope in what we make. My preferred medium is paper; it becomes the layer between the visible and invisible worlds-- on sculpture, drawing and printmaking. In this Wordpress blog I would like to share, entertain and to connect with like-minded spirits.